Chair structure



P 1953 w. E. NORDMARK ET AL 2,650,648

CHAIR STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 15, 1952 INVENTORS Wall-er llNot'dmar-lf 'QNormau C..Poel

ATTORNEY umn H.

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 CHAIR STRUCTURE Walter E. Nordmark and Norman C. Poel, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 13, 1952, Serial N 0. 304,062

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to chair structures and more particularly to swivel seat mountings.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a seat swivel construction which is quiet in operation, long-wearing, simple and sturdy in construction and reasonably economical in manufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a chair having the new seat swivel, certain parts of the seat mountings being broken away to show parts beyond;

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the seat mountings, taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of parts thereof taken on line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of other parts thereof taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now in detail to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the chair there shown generally comprises a base Ill, an upstanding tubular supporting column ll secured to the base [0, and a chair proper mounted by means of the new swivel structure on the column H and comprising side frames I2, back rails l3, l4 and a seat [5.

Referring now particularly to the seat mountings, a bridge 16 is secured within the column near the upper end thereof and in substantially horizontal position by means of upstanding flanges 11 on the bridge which are secured as by spot welding to the inner side walls of the 001- A cap I8 is secured to the upper extremity of the column II and serves as a closure therefor. This cap l8 has a depending peripheral flange I9 through which extend self-tapping screws for securing the cap to the upper end of the column. The cap (8 and the bridge l6 are provided with vertically aligned bearing apertures therethrough, designated 2|, 22 respectively, within which bearings is turnably disposed a pintle 23 having reduced diameter upper and lower end portions 24, respectively. Bushings 2B, 21 are interposed respectively between the bearing surfaces of the pintles reduced upper end portion 24 and the caps bearing 2!, and between the bearing surfaces of the intles reduced lower end portion 25 and the bridges bearing 22. These bushings 2'0, 21 are made of molded polyamide resin (nylon) which has both long-wearing and self-lubricating properties A chair bracket 28 is mounted on the extreme upper end 29 of the pintle 23, said extreme upper end of the pintle extending upwardly through an aperture in the bracket 28 and being threaded to receive an assembly nut 30 and a lock nut 3!. The assembly nut 30 is keyed to the bracket 28 by means of a cross-piece 32 secured as by welding to the bracket and having an upstanding flange 33 flush against one of the facets of the assembly nut 30. Thus the chair bracket 28 is keyed to the pintle 23 and is turnable therewith.

The cap I8 is provided with an upwardly projecting stop 34 secured within an aperture in the cap as by spinning over the lower end 35 of the stop. The bracket 28 has an upwardly embossed arcuate raceway 36 therein, concentrio with the pintle 23 and embracing the stop 34 therein. A washer 3"! is interposed between the cap l8 and the chair bracket 28 and is provided with an embossing 38 which snugly embraces the upper semi-spherical surface of the stop 34 and which is adapted to contact the ends of the arcuate slot 36 to limit turning movements of the chair bracket 28, and the chair carried thereby. The washer 3'1 is likewise made of molded polyamide resin (nylon) because of its long-wearing and self-lubricating qualities, and also because it provides quiet cushioned stops for the chair in its swivelling movements.

The chair proper is fixedly mounted on the chair bracket 28 for turning movement therewith, in any suitable manner. As here shown, two cross-bars 39, 43 are secured to the front and rear vertical flanges 4|, 42 of the bracket 23 by means of bolts 43, 44 having nuts 45, it. The outer ends of these cross-bars 39, M] are secured as by spot welding to the side frames i2 of the chair proper.

The swivel seat mounting is adjustable as to the amount of friction which is imposed on the seat in its turning movement. Such adjustment may be effected by removing the screws 29 and lifting the seat and seat mountings off the tubular column H. The lock nut 3! is then loosened, whereupon the pintle 23 may be turned to adjust the friction as desired. The lock nut 31 is then tightened again and the seat and seat mountings reassembled to the tubular column I l.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a seat swivel which is simple and rugged, longwearing, self-lubricating and noiseless, and while but one specific embodiment of the invention has 3 been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous detail may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

We claim;

1. In a chair structure: a supporting column having a vertical bearing in the upper end thereof; a pintle turnably disposed in said bearing and extending above the column; a stop project'- ing upwardly from the upper end of the column; a chair bracket mounted on the upper end of the pintle turnably therewith and having an upwardly embossed arcuate raceway concentricwith the pintle and embracing therein said stop; a chair seat secured to the bracket; and a molded washer interposed between the chair bracket and the upper end of the supporting column, said washer having an embossing snugly embracing the stop and adapted to contact the ends of the arcuate raceway to limit turning movements of the chair bracket and the chair seat carried thereby.

2. In a chair structure: a supporting column having a vertical bearing in the upper-end thereof; a pintle turnably disposed in said bearing and extending above the column; a stop projecting upwardly from the upper end of the column; a chair bracket mounted on the upper end of the pintle turnably therewith and having an upwardly embossed arcuate raceway concentric with the pintle and embracing therein said stop; a chair seat secured to the bracket; and a molded polyamide resin washer interposed between the chair bracket and the upper end of the supporting column, said washer having an embossing snugly embracing the stop and adapted tocontact the ends of the arcuate raceway to limit turning movements of the chair bracket and the chair seat carried thereby.

3. In a chair structure: a tubular supporting column; a horizontally disposed bridge secured within the column near the upper end thereof; a cap secured to the upper extremity of the column and closing the upper end thereof, said cap and said bridge having vertically aligned bearings therein; a pintle turnably disposed in said bearings and extending above the cap; bushings interposed between the bearing surfaces of said pintle and said cap and bridge; a stop projecting upwardly from the cap; a chair bracket mounted on the upper end of the pintle turnably therewith and having an upwardly embossed arcuate raceway concentric with the pintle and embracing therein said stop; a chair seat secured to the bracket; and a molded washer interposed between the cap and the chair bracket, said washer having an embossing snugly embracing the stopand adapted to contact the ends of the arcuate raceway to limit turning movements of the chair bracket and the chair seat carried thereby.

4. In achair structure: a tubular supporting column; a horizontally disposed bridge secured within the column near the upper end thereof; a cap secured to the upper extremity of the column and closing the upper end thereof, said cap and said bridge having vertically aligned bearings therein; a pintle turnably disposed in said bearings and extending above the cap; polyamide resin bushings interposed between the bearing surfaces of said pintle and said cap and bridge;

a stop projecting upwardly from the cap; a chair References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,639,371 Freeman Aug, 16, 1927 2,339,953 Schlorman Jan. 25, 1944 2,529,780 Miller Nov. 14, 1950 

